Supplementary cover to protect luggage



Aug. 4, 1953 1. J. MEYERS SUPPLEMENTARY COVER TO PROTECT LUGGAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 1951 INVENTOR IRVING J. MEYERS BY QTM,J ATTORNEY 1953 l. J. MEYERS 2,647,595

SUPPLEMENTARY COVER TO PROTECT LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEINTOR mvme J. MEYERS,

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 SUPPLEMENTARY COVER TO PROTECT LUGGAGE Irving J. Meyers, Richmond, Va.

Application February 26, 1951, Serial No. 212,798

4 Claims.

This invention relates to luggage covers and pertains particularly to improved covers of the type which may be called quick detachable or conversely those which may be quickly applied.

More specifically, the type of cover is that having four sides and a top but no bottom, whereby it may be applied downwardly over the top of a suitcase. For convenience hereinafter, this type of cover is termed a sack type cover, by reason of its side walls and one closed end.

Damage to luggage during travel or otherwise in the course of handling has created a demand for protective luggage covers. Some of these are custom made and tailored quite exactly and are correspondingly expensive. Unless so tailored, luggage covers have often proved to be either too tight or too loose even for specified sizes. Improvements tending to obviate this latter fault embody the use of elastically stretchable material used in combination with a sliding fastener whereby the respective parts of the cover snugly fit to and embrace the opposite hinged parts of a suitcase.

Such improvements are described in Patent No. 2,520,250 and in the application Serial No. 3780 filed January 22, 1948, copending herewith (now Patent No. 2,617,504)

The present invention includes the use of elastically stretchable material but dispenses with fasteners, and is of unitary construction in that the top and sides are permanently secured together.

The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the cover of the present invention will be understood from the following specification and claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking downward toward one corner of the luggage cover of this invention as applied to a conventional suitcase, the cover being provided with spaced strips of elastically stretchable material;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 2 showing an underneath fastening strap in open position in broken lines; Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1 but of a modification in which the elastic material covers the entire width of the top and ends; and

Fig. 5 is a modification of the cover according to which the opposite ends are open except for cross straps of elastically stretchable material.

Referring in detail to the several figures of the drawings, it will be understood that the article of this present invention is a suitcase cover adapted for quick detachable use and which is 2 applied at the top of the suitcase and is adapted to be lowered so as to enclose the top sides and ends and to be secured beneath the suitcase so as to prevent accidental displacement. The cover includes side panels indicated at I which are shown in the several figures as extending the full area of the suitcase sides. To provide for ready adaptability to slightly different contours and dimensions for suitcases which are intended to have identical dimensions, the cover of this invention is provided with one or more strips of elastic extending from one lower corner upward over the end and lengthwise of the top and thence downwardly to the opposite lower corner. This elastic strip is stretchable transversely of the width of the suitcase, as indicated by the arrows in the several figures.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, two such elastically stretchable strips 2 are provided. They are relatively narrow and are secured to the adjacent marginal edge of each :of the side panels I by the usual stitching, as indicated at I The portions of the strips 2 extending downwardly at the end portions of the cover are indicated at 2.

Intermediate the strips 2 is a strip of covering having a portion 3 extending lengthwise of the suitcase and which has end portions 3'. This intermediate strip 3 and 3 is preferably of the same material as that of the panel portions I, and the intermediate strip is secured to the adjacent edges of the elastic strips by stitching indicated at 2 Centrally located at the upper middle portion of the central strip is an opening 4 through which the handle of a suitcase may project, the opening having side walls 5 which are preferably provided with a suitable binding. A strap with a suitable snap fastener is indicated at 6, whereby the opposite side walls 5 may be brought together and the cover thus secured beneath the suitcase handle.

Means for securing the lower edges of the cover beneath the bottom of a suitcase are provided by straps l which have one end secured to one side panel at the lower edge thereof, as indicated at 8, and the opposite end releasably secured to the lower edge of the opposite panel, as indicated at 9 by means of a snap fastener. The straps I may be of any suitable material such as tape, elastically stretchable material, or a waterproof plastic.

In Figure 4, there is illustrated a modification of the cover shown in Figure 1. According to Figure 4, the elastically stretchable material extends the full width of the suitcase from side panel to side panel, and completely from one lower corner upwardly over the ends and across the top.

In Figure 5, there is illustrated a further modification in which the upper face of the cover is provided with a full width of elastic material, as illustrated in Figure 4, but the ends thereof terminate just below the upper surface. The end portions are open except for a plurality of strips i9 which are connected to the opposite panels I, and extend transve "sely of the width of the cover as shown in Figure 5. These strips iii are also preferably of elastically stretchable ,material. The space between the upper co'ver portion 2 and the next adjacent strip Ill, and between the strips ii), is open, so that the suitcase enclosed'by .the cover may be visible. The cross strips llido afford some protection for the material of the suitcase. The suites cover of this modification has an advantage in that less elastic material is used than in the modification shown in Figure l.

The fragmentary view shown Figure 2 is taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows. This view shows insection the positioning of the stitching between the portions l, 2 and 3 at one end of the cover. It also shows in dot and dash lines the position which would be occupied by a suitcase when'the cover is in use. lhe strap "i in Figure 2 is shown with its snap fastener 53in its attached position.

The fragmentary view shown in Figure 3 is taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and this view illustrates the position of the strap l in solid lines and in broken lines shows the location of the male portion of the snap fastenerwith respect to the strap when the latter is in its released position,

The panels i, and theintermediatestrips of Figure l, are preferably formed of wear resistant and scuff proof material which may be either a textile fabric, or a plastic coated textile, or a transparent or translucent plastic sheet. The stitchedseam is preferably located on the side next to the suitcase although the location and type of seains'may be varied as desired. The elastically stretchable material ofthe portions 2 and is preferably of textile goods having rubber threads extending in at least one direction of the weave whereby the coveris definitelyequipped to s *etch transversely of the width of a' suitcase on which the cover is to be used.

1. A'luggagecover for protecting theftop and sides of an, article of luggage, comprising two panel portions each matching in size and shape the opposite respective sides of a piece of luggage, top cot er means to protect the top of the piece of luggage nding between and joining upper dges of said panel portions and including elastically stretchable material, said top cover means having an opening through which aluggage handle extend, said top cover means being entirely of sheet material and permanently secured to said panel portions, and bottom securing means comprising a plurality of spaced straps, one end ofleach of which is secured to a panel adjacent a loweredge thereof and which straps are releasably attachable to the opposite panel.

2. A luggage'cover for protecting the top'and sides oi an article of luggage, comprising two panel portions each matching in sizeand shape the opposite respective sides of a piece of luggage, top cover means toprotect the top of the piece of luggage extending between and joining upper edges-of said panel portions and including elastically-stretchable material, said top cover means ,having an opening through which a luggage handle may extendsaid top covermeans being 4 entirely of sheet material and permanently se-' cured to said panel portions, the opposite ends of said elastically stretchable top covering material terminating adjacent the ends of said panel portions and above and spaced from the bottom edge of said panel portions, a connecting strip at each end of said cover of elastically, stretchable material extendin horizontally and joined to adjacent ends of said two panel portions at a distance from and spaced below the adjacent end of said top covering elastically stretchable material, and bottom securing means comprising a plurality of spaced straps, one end of each of which is secured to a panel adjacent a lower edge thereof and which straps are releasably attachable to the opposite panel.

3. A luggage coverfor protecting the top and sides of an article of luggage, comprising two panel portions each matching in size and shape the opposite r spective sides of a piece of luggage, top cover means to protect the top of ,th'epiece of luggage extending between and joining upper edges of said panel portions and including elastically stretchable material, said top cover means having an opening through which a luggage handle may extend, said top cover meansbeing entirely of sheet material andpermanently ,secured to said panel portions, the oppositeflends of said elastically stretchable top covering materrninating adjacent the ends of saidpanel poi tions, a connecting strip at each end of said cover of stretchable materiallejgtending he zontally and joined to adjacent ends of two panel portions at a distance from and spaced below the adjacent end of said top covering elastically stretchable material, the area between of said connecting strips and theadjacent end of elastically stretqhablefmaterial being open, id bottom securing means; comprising a plurality of spaced straps, one endof each of which is secured to a panel adjacent a lower edge thereof and which straps are releasably attachable to the opposite panel. 7

4. A suitcase cover for quick detachable use and of the type having material for the protection of the top of the suitcase, both' e nds and both sides, said cover being characterized by a first strip of elastically stretchable material extending lengthwise of the case along the top and between the material of the sidesto which it is permanently connected, the opposite ends of said cover having secondary strips of elasti'cally stretchable material extending transversely, of the width of the cover spaced from theadjacent end of said first strip and connected to thematerial of the sides of the cover, and bottoin securing means comprising a,plurality offspaced straps, one end of each of which is secured. to a lower edge portion of thematerial for the'protection of one of the sides, and which straps are rcleasably attachable to the lower edge portion of the material for protecting the pposite side.

IRVING J. MEYERS.

References Cited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ntunber Name Date 2,167,587, Rowe Ju1y.25, 1939 2,487,596 Sackstein Nov. 8, 1949 U Pension PATENTS Number Country Date 607,133 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1948 

